Shinde defends move to send rape victim to Singapore, says it was not political

Shinde defends move to send rape victim to Singapore, says it was not political

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Last Updated: Sat, Dec 29, 2012 07:40 hrs

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Saturday defended the government's decision to shift the victim of the December 16 gang rape to Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital from New Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital, saying that it was done on the advice of doctors, and that there was nothing political about the move.

He said that the decision was taken in the best interest of the woman, and added that her tragic death would not go in vain.

He described the crime and its eventual outcome as a lesson for all.

Meanwhile, doctors who had attended to the woman, also rejected all criticism of the decision to shift her to Singapore, saying that it was taken to save her at all costs.

Dr. B.D. Athani, the Medical Superintendent of the Safdarjung Hospital, said: "The pure intention was to save her. The whole nation was praying for her, and everyone was hoping for the best. We could not have given hope. We wanted to save her."

Dr Yatin Mehta, a critical care specialist of the Medanta Medicity Hospital, said he was surprised by criticism of the decision. (ANI)